Has a Dales rescue team discovered the biggest cave in the world?
Cavers from Craven have become the first people to set eyes on what could turn out to be the world’s largest cave. A Vietnamese jungle worker, who found the opening to the cave 18 years ago while out hunting, guided the group through leech and snake-infested jungle for six hours to the mouth of the cave system – so large it has its own cloud inside. Hang Son Doong, Mountain River Cave, is huge. Set in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, it is estimated to be 200 metres high – nearly 50 metres higher than Blackpool Tower – and up to 150 metres wide. Until a couple of weeks ago, it had not been seen before. “We were the first. The guide, Ho Khanh, who we think is aged about 49, had come across it while out hunting food for his family,” said Ian Watson, of West Marton, a member of the six-strong Craven contingent. All belong to either the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation or the Grassington-based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. “We met him in 2007 and asked if there
